Se connecterAt Seraphina's table, the conversation flowed naturally as they continued eating.Laughter echoed.The elders, who were usually strict and reserved, were now visibly pleased—almost amused—as they listened."Not bad… not bad at all," one of them said, chuckling."Looks like the Valeza blood didn't go to waste."The others laughed."Of course," another elder added, nodding. "You can't hide that kind of talent. It's in the blood."Darius smiled faintly.Elena, on the other hand, looked openly proud."Elders," Darius said respectfully, "what you've heard is only part of it."The three elders leaned slightly forward.Interested.Elena continued."When Seraphina first started… she didn't rely on anyone.""She built everything from scratch."Her voice carried quiet pride."From a small studio… she turned it into a corporation."The elders exchanged glances.Impressed.Darius added, "Aureline Corp didn't just grow—it gained international recognition."He looked at Seraphina briefly."It was a
Seraphina stepped forward with elegance, walking alongside her parents toward the grand hall.Each step was steady.Graceful.As if she were walking through a world of her own.A faint, sweet smile rested on her lips as she looked at the people staring at her in silence.Her calm and gentle expression—Too beautiful.Enough to make one question—Was she human?Or a fairy who descended to earth to redefine beauty?As they entered—Three elders approached.They were the pillars of the family.The enforcers of family laws.All in their seventies or eighties—Yet their posture remained firm, their presence strong.Wealth had preserved them well.—The elder at the center spoke first."Darius," he said, his voice steady, "at last… you've found your missing daughter."His gaze shifted to Seraphina.Then to Elena.A smile appeared."There's no doubt," he continued. "She resembles Elena perfectly.""And her aura…"He nodded."Carries the blood of the Valeza."He let out a satisfied laugh.The
The largest villa stood illuminated.Every hall, every corner, every chandelier—lit to perfection.Long banquet tables lined both sides of the grand hall, filled with exquisite dishes and fine drinks. The air carried a mix of perfume, laughter, and quiet tension.It looked like an elite gathering.But everyone present—Belonged to the Valeza family.Today marked the return of the eldest son's family.And more importantly—The return of the long-lost rightful heir.—The atmosphere was lively.Men in tailored suits. Women in elegant gowns. Even within their own compound, no one dressed casually. Appearances mattered—status was always on display.Clusters of people gathered across the hall.Some laughed.Some whispered.Some observed silently.—"Do you think it's true? That she's really coming back?""I heard she is.""The real heir…""I wonder what she looks like."—There was excitement.Curiosity.Anticipation.—Truthfully—Most of them didn't care who sat on the throne.As long as
Solene City.Valeza Residence.The Valeza Residence was not just a home—It was a compound.A vast, sprawling estate that housed the first to third branches of the Valeza family. From the outside, a massive iron gate stood as the only entrance, guarded at all times. Beyond it stretched an enormous landscape of manicured gardens, stone pathways, and multiple villas arranged with deliberate order.The land was so large that walking from one end to the other was impractical. Golf carts were used to move around, and even then, it could take hours to fully traverse the estate.It was said that to completely explore the entire compound without rest—It would take three days and three nights.—The family was divided by contribution and standing.Each branch held influence depending on what they had done for the family.But regardless of rank—There was only one final authority.The Patriarch.Even the elders deferred to that position.It didn't matter if one was young or old, male or female
Lucien turned to face them."Stand up."At once, Fatty and his men straightened."Mr. Cross… I didn't expect to run into you here," Fatty said, still slightly stiff."It just happened," Lucien replied calmly.Fatty nodded, then glanced at Dexter."Mr. Cross, it seems this man caused trouble for you," he said. "Just tell me what you want done to him."—Dexter's world collapsed.Everything he imagined—the reward, the recognition, the connection—Shattered instantly.His body turned cold.Then—Warm.A dark stain spread across his pants.He lost control completely.The liquid dripped to the ground like a small stream.His legs gave out.He dropped to his knees."Mr. Cross…!" he begged, voice trembling. "I didn't know… I didn't know it was really you…"—Iris frowned in disgust."…That's filthy."Even Seraphina looked slightly displeased.—Lucien's expression didn't change."Take him away," he said.His voice was cold."Find out everything he's done in this area and elsewhere.""Make h
Dexter kept talking.Confident.Proud.As if he had just done something commendable at the perfect time."Mr. Fatty," he continued, gesturing toward Lucien and the others, "these people are bold. Not only did they pretend to be Mr. Cross and Chairman Valeza—"He scoffed."They even tried to intimidate us using those names."He shook his head, clicking his tongue."Good thing we arrived in time to stop them."He puffed his chest slightly."My men already surrounded them. We were just about to deal with them properly before handing them over to you."—He didn't notice it.The change.—Fatty's face had gone stiff.Completely stiff.The cigar between his fingers trembled slightly.Behind him—Scarface had also frozen.The moment he saw Seraphina—And that back.That figure standing in front of them.He knew.Exactly who it was.A cold sweat formed on his back.He swallowed hard.—But Dexter—Was still talking.Still adding more.More lies.More exaggeration."They even resisted us," he
"What happened?" Lucien demanded the moment Irene's voice cracked through the line. "Wasn't she in her office? How could something happen?""I accompanied the Chairman when she went out—" Irene's voice crackled through the line."Send me the location," Lucien cut in sharply. "I'm coming."He ended
Seraphina's hand clenched tightly at her side.She took one step forward—And Clinton moved, blocking her path."Are you really going to let your studio shut down?" he said sharply. "Think about it."His voice softened, turning persuasive again. "All the effort you poured into it. How you started f
Late that afternoon, Lucien's phone rang.He answered immediately.The voice on the other end spoke quickly, delivering the results of the investigation.Within minutes, Lucien had the outline of the situation.The Torres family was involved.More specifically, a man from Sakura Country had used hi
Two people stepped forward.Seraphina recognized them instantly.Vanessa Kline.Marcus Hale.Lucien, standing off to the side with a coffee in hand, curved his lips into a faint smile.'Interesting,' he thought.Vanessa stopped right in front of Seraphina, chin lifted, eyes sharp."There's a proble







